2024
K e y achie v ements
Despite these aforementioned challenges, it has been business as usual (even if it did not seem like it sometimes) and there have been some notable highs for the business in 2024. I would select two specific examples that have really stood out for me.
Immediate Past President, Peter Broad, drove the agenda towards gaining ISO 9001 certification. It is fair to say there was some initial skepticism and push back from others on the management board. Gaining certification proved to be no easy task and time consuming. The scope we chose was ‘Training services in marine surveying’. My colleague, Camella Robertson, embraced the project and worked tirelessly to ensure a successful audit. It was with real pride (following that external DNV audit) that we were invited to their HQ in London to receive our certificate. The next challenge is to ensure we get through next year’s audit!
The other milestone was achieved in a completely different area of the business, proving just how complex IIMS has become over the years with many strands to it. In the summer, the Marine Surveying Academy (a division of IIMS) received its 1,000th application for eCMID Accredited Vessel Inspector certification since launch in 2015. That felt like a remarkable achievement. It took me back to the time in mid-2014, when I sat in IMCAs (International Marine Contractors Association), London head office. The challenge the industry faced, they said, was that no one had a clue who was boarding complex offshore vessels to carry out audits and inspections and what their qualifications were (if any). This felt wrong and clearly was. So, the process we developed was to objectively assess and match experience and competency against certain vessel types. The eCMID AVI scheme has made a huge difference in the offshore inspection arena and many key players in the sector will not accept an inspector onboard unless they carry the eCMID card. This scheme remains something I am hugely proud to have been instrumental in helping to develop and deliver.
Member s hip
New membership applications have been steady across the year, split equally between small craft and commercial shipping, with something of a spurt as we entered the final quarter. Of interest to me increasingly is reading the box where applicants tell us how they heard about IIMS and what prompted their application. Word of mouth remains a strong reason, or recommended by someone in their peer group, but increasingly the sources are far and wide with LinkedIn being mentioned, internet search and one even saying that his insurer had recommended he apply!
Rachel Moores was due to return from maternity leave in the summer, but decided not to come back, only to have a change of heart. She is now providing valuable support to Membership Secretary, Camella Robertson. Our Management Accountant, Jen Argent, departed to be replaced by Alison Hare, but it proved not to the right role for her. Jen Argent has now returned!
And Sharon Holland and Elly Bryant - both highly valued and long-standing members of the team, have been promoted to more responsible positions.
It has certainly been an eventful year!
Capt Chris Kelly FIIMS (Chair of the Professional Assessment Committee) and his team do a detailed and thorough review of each application. Not all applicants are offered membership, some do not achieve the grade they applied for, and many are not granted all the specialisations they seek due to lack of objective evidence being supplied.
Mentoring remains a key challenge and one that IIMS has yet to successfully resolve. But new impetus is underway to tackle this issue and much of the latter part of 2024 has been assessing how best to do this. Watch this space for more news coming soon.
As I reflect on the past decade, I realise I used to think that growing membership was the be all and end all. And indeed, over that time the Institute has grown its membership base strongly. But all membership organisations (and not just those in the maritime sector) have faced challenges gaining new members and then holding on to them. Even my tennis club has had a similar experience trying to recruit new players. The membership retention at IIMS is high, in excess of 95%. But my thinking has changed over time. Yes, we encourage new members and always want more, but increasingly I am motivated knowing that IIMS can raise
THE REPORT | DEC 2024 | ISSUE 110 | 51
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
